Talk on the restoration profession and Nazi looting

The ICON Paintings Group Invite you to a talk on

Working for Hitler: The Restoration Profession and the Nazi Looting
    Machine
Presented by Morwenna Blewett
ICON Office
1  London Bridge
London SE1 9BG
Tuesday,  21 October 2008
6pm prompt

Tickets: ICON members:  UKP5, non members:  UKP10

Nazi looting of cultural property during World War II functioned to
meet several objectives that ranged from collecting ideologically
desirable art for their new museums and private collections,
removing works deemed "degenerate", hence unpalatable to the
National Socialist regime, and this mechanism of theft was also used
to suppress and persecute Jews and other groups as their household
goods and art collections were sequestered.  In addition it offered
the financial benefits as "unwanted", looted works were sold to
create capital.

Together with specialists, such as art historians, dealers and
curators, restorers from both the commercial and institutional
worlds took up theft and profiteering at this time. Some restorers
worked for the Nazis under duress, their good reputations making
them vulnerable to forcible employment orders, while others
identified actively with National Socialism for careerist
motivations or monetary gain.

Using previously classified material and recently rediscovered
papers and photographs, this talk will explore the context of
looting during this period and then describe conservators' and
restorers' roles within this highly organised and ruthless
programme.

Please  register with

    Clare Finn
    +44 20 7937 1895
    finnclare<-a t->aol< . >com

no later than Thursday, 18 October 2008, to be sure your name is on
the security list at the door

Dr. Clare  Finn
Clare Finn and Co. Ltd
38 Cornwall Gardens
London SW7 4AA


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:7
                   Distributed: Friday, July 25, 2008
                        Message Id: cdl-22-7-008
                                  ***